Nice way to end the day in Oldsmar as special weight maiden three years olds and old take a one mile tour on the Tampa Bay turf.
Wish there were something sexier to offer that the early line favorite but Astroturf (5-2) has taken to the real sod and is set for lifetime start #3.
A good third at this trip, on this course, in December, finishing up nicely between horses in the late going, he shipped north to the more friendly speed friendly Gulfstream grass, a natural bias that doesn’t flatter this young gelding’s style.
Racing in mid-pack, he rated 3-wide throughout and finished up nicely for the place, moving forward visually and against the clock for a runnerup finish behind a rival that saved ground in his winning stretch rally.
Check at the Tampa Bay Today Video and see if you agree with our assessment of his last race 58 days ago, Gulfstream RACE 1, FEB 13.
Since that key race, Astroturf, whose lone sibling won on turf, has worked four times at his home base, where Jonathan Thomas is winning at 29%. The trainer shows a lifetime profit with all his turf runners.
We’ll take Astroturf straight, needing a minimum of 2-1 with this group, and will key-box 50-Cent trifectas first and second with Beachwalker (4-1), U S Army Corps (3-1) and live price shot Small Talk (8-1).
